Phosphorus depletion in forest soils shapes bacterial communities towards phosphorus recycling systems

Summary Phosphorus ( P ) is an important macronutrient for all biota on earth but similarly a finite resource. Microorganisms play on both sides of the fence as they effectively mineralize organic and solubilize precipitated forms of soil phosphorus but conversely also take up and immobilize P . Therefore, we analysed the role of microbes in two beech forest soils with high and low P content by direct sequencing of metagenomic deoxyribonucleic acid. For inorganic P solubilization, a significantly higher microbial potential was detected in the P ‐rich soil. This trait especially referred to C andidatus   S olibacter usiatus, likewise one of the dominating species in the data sets. A higher microbial potential for efficient phosphate uptake systems ( pstSCAB ) was detected in the P ‐depleted soil. Genes involved in P starvation response regulation ( phoB , phoR ) were prevalent in both soils. This underlines the importance of effective phosphate ( P ho) regulon control for microorganisms to use alternative P sources during phosphate limitation. Predicted genes were primarily harboured by R hizobiales, A ctinomycetales and A cidobacteriales.